TUSD Weekly Update| 1.16.18
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We hope you are enjoying this new communications effort designed to showcase and keep you in the loop on all the wonderful things happening in TUSD. Please follow us on social media for daily vs. just weekly updates! Got a story idea? Please reach out!
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Something New in Communications
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This month we will be sending a mailing to all TUSD families with information on three new apps that will help students and parents stay abreast of important information. We hope you will help spread the word and encourage you to download these apps as well!
- TUSD App - Receive emergency notifications and find useful information from the TUSD website.
- Aeries Mobile Portal App - Check grades, attendance, contact, and demographic info. Same log-in as Aeries Family Link.
- SchoolMessenger App - Check and select how you receive ScoolMessenger notifications.
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With March-Madness just around the corner, and I’m not referring to college basketball but rather LCAP work, I’d like to extend an invitation to each of you to share your reflective thoughts as we work to better the US in TUSD on behalf of our students’ education. Improving the educational experience for our students is our greatest priority and each of us can contribute by taking the time to complete our LCAP survey which has truly become the catalyst for change and opportunity in our District.
Please be reminded that the LCAP process is one that considers and discusses every idea and suggestion when brought forward. Many of the positive changes are a direct reflection on your input and suggestions, and I am very appreciative for those who take the opportunity and process to heart while keeping the following in mind:
- Every single comment/suggestion/idea is read and categorized to help identify similarities/trends with both the LCAP Cohort and Steering Committee.
- No survey feedback/comments are identifiable by staff name or school/department unless specified in the comments made…and even then, the stakeholder is NOT identifiable. To help us in meeting the needs of all students through multiple lenses, identifying the stakeholder role (staff, student, parent, or community member) on the survey is very important.
Our goal is to continue collecting input now so that the committees can make more timely decisions related to increasing student achievement and
opening doors for more
with increased opportunities and access. With more tech-access to all staff on our school sites, we hope for increased survey participation; our collective wisdom and experiences will only make TUSD stronger!
With that said, I would sincerely appreciate your time in completing the following survey with an open and honest mind and heart that is filled with trust prior to March 1
st
when it will closes.
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Chromebook Guest Mode: Sunset Phase I
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Jay Brem, Director of Technology and Innovation
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TUSD will begin its transition away from allowing the use of Guest Mode on Chromebooks beginning in mid-January. This will help us better manage them, as well as help us use them in a more safe and secure manner. It will also allow us to evaluate products that can help make our network and connections function more efficiently. We will start with the student Chromebooks according to the schedule below. Spacing out the change will allow us to better monitor the transition and respond to any technical issues. Pending the outcome of this first phase, we will plan for a potential transition of the staff Chromebooks in the future.
1/22/18 Elementary Sites
1/29/18 Secondary Sites and eCademy
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John H. Pitman was the Principal of Turlock High School for twenty years from January 1, 1947 to June 1966. He was born July 9, 1898 in Dayton, Ohio, and his father was a Presbyterian minister who brought his family to Modesto in 1903 where he attended Modesto High School. Pitman was working as the foreman of a garage when he was offered the job of Auto Mechanics instructor at THS in 1923. He also taught Electricity and Physics. Pitman would remain at THS the next 42 years except for the 29 months he spent as an Aircraft Instructor for the Army Air Corps in Deming, New Mexico, during WWII.
In 1934, Pitman became Dean of Boys at THS and, in 1935, added the job of Vice Principal. He became the eighth Principal of THS in 1947. In 1965, he turned the principalship over to George Marks and became the Superintendent of the Turlock Joint Union School District until his retirement in 1966.
When Pitman started at THS, only the current East and West Wings existed. He spent the rest of his career overseeing the building of the campus and the expansion of the course offerings and programs as well as hiring dozens of employees. Above all, his focus was on providing the best education possible for THS students. In nearly every issue of the
Alert yearbook, Pitman added this message to seniors: "We hope our students will graduate not only with an intellectual interest in life but with a philosophy which embodies those words that have been clarion calls to many generations--Love, Justice, Courage, Self-Mastery, Mercy, Liberty. These attributes do not occur without cultivation."
John H. Pitman died August 21, 1979. when the groundwork was being laid for a second high school, its name was easily chosen: John H. Pitman High School.
~
Turlock High School Centennial 1906-2006
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Student Welfare and Attendance Specialist
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Maria Gutierrez is a new employee in TUSD in a brand new position--Student Welfare and Attendance Specialist. Prior to joining TUSD, Maria worked for the Stanislaus County Probation Department as a Probation Officer for 20 years. Her new TUSD position allows Maria to utilize some of the skills she gained working with troubled youth in her prior employment as she provides interventions for truants, collaborates with families to promote regular school attendance, and, as needed, utilizes the court system to ensure student learning is not affected by absenteeism. Maria is married to the Turlock High School Maintenance and Operations Supervisor Martin Gutierrez and has three children currently attending TUSD schools. In her free time, Maria enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as reading and listening to music. Thank you, Maria, for helping out the "US" in TUSD!
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Where in the World is . . . Bob Stammerjohan?
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For those in TUSD with
many years under their belt, the name Bob Stammerjohan is a welcome reminder of a special time in our District. Bob's tenure in TUSD spanned 23 years between 1979 to 2002. The first part of his career was spent at Turlock High School until 1985 when he made the jump to the District Office serving as the
Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services. After retiring, Bob did some consulting work and also designed websites. He and his wife also traveled extensively in Europe, Central America, South America, and Africa. Bob feels privileged to have worked in TUSD and remembers his colleagues fondly. In his free time he enjoys riding his bike, photography, reading, and working on anything involving Mac computers. This feature wouldn't be complete without one of Bob's "stories" from the old days:
"The most memorable event (in my career) was a bitter cold December morning my first year at THS. Tom Parker, the Principal, and Bob Hoskins released 500 just-hatched baby chicks into my office. When I walked in and saw them I yelled an expletive and, within seconds, there was unbelievable amount of fresh chicken manure to clean up. On the desk, in the typewriter (which we still had in those pre-computer days), on the floor, in the filing cabinets - everywhere. I was furious. Tom Parker thought it was hilarious and Bob Hoskins quickly went into hiding. It took quite awhile for me to enjoy the humor of such a well-staged event. Tom Parker, who died recently, did a lot of things to make it fun to work at THS. He also made it fun for the students to learn. He played many more practical jokes on me and the rest of the staff over the years; but none are as memorable as the baby chicks."
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January Rotary Students of the Month
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Andrea Nuno, Grade 7, Turlock Junior High School
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Shaylan Roy-Williams, Grade 6, Julien Elementary School
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Addison Edeal, Grade 6, Julien Elementary School
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Kylie Nettles, Grade 10, eCademy Charter at Crane School
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Loreta Montes
Turlock HIgh School
Grade | 10
Fave Subject | Dance
Career Goal | Business Owner
College Goal | Fresno State or UCLA
Fave Thing About School | Friendships
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Elyse Miranda Swanson
Pitman High School
Grade | 11
Activities | Choir, Drama, Acting, Songwriting, Piano
Fave Food | Potatoes in any form!
Pets | 3 Dogs
Career Goal | Songwriter
College Goal | Undecided
Fave Thing About School | Inspiration for Ideas
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Last Week in Social Media
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Ahead of Monday’s Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, PE students at Turlock High School participated in a commemorative march around Crane Park. PE teachers surrounded the march route with quotes from Dr. King and also played inspirational music. Thank you, teachers, for helping keep Dr. King’s dream and legacy alive for a new generation students.
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TUSD Administrative Council Meeting with guest speaker Jennifer Johnson from CSU, Stanislaus presenting on “Students and Mental Health and Cyberbullying.” A great follow-up to Monday’s No Bully training.
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Is this thing on? 🎤 Winter Break is officially over in TUSD and we’re back in school! Please keep an eye peeled for students as they make their way back to school today and be sure to
#STOPONRED
.
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Thank you to the City of Turlock and TUSD volunteers who helped make the 3rd Annual Farm to Family Feast a hit! Hope to see our students and their families again next year.
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Please contact Chief Communication Coordinator Marie Russell if you have a recommendation for future content including a retiree to catch up with, student to recognize, or employee to feature. 209.648.0968
Click
HERE
to take a fun survey and chance to win a $5 gift card!
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